News

For Immediate Release: June 4, 2020
Contact: Christina Williams, Coordinator of Public Informationcwilliams@fortsmithschools.org
Peak Innovation Center Receives $1 Million Grant from the Gene Haas Foundation
Fort Smith, AR, June 4, 2020 – Fort Smith Public Schools’ Peak Innovation Center has received a $1 Million grant from the Gene Haas Foundation for expansion of the

COVID-19 Relief Fund
In response to the economic catastrophe that has accompanied the Covid-19
pandemic, First Presbyterian Church is beginning a fund to assist those whose
livelihoods have been undone.Target Population
The fund will allow us to assist residents in the River Valley. Our goal is to
help those who are not receiving unemployment benefits due to a delay or
because they do not qualify to receive benefits.
Our pool of applicants will include:
• Small

For Immediate Release:
June 1, 2020Contact: Christina Williams, Coordinator of Public Information
cwilliams@fortsmithschools.org
FSPS Hires Two Southside Coaches, Assistant Director of District InnovationFort Smith, AR, June 1, 2020 – Fort Smith Public Schools has added two new coaches to its
Athletics and Student Activities staff and a new Assistant Director of District Innovation: Dr.
Samantha Hall, Coach. Mahmoud Ihmeidan, and Coach Kim Dameron . Dr. Hall and Coach
Dameron’s hirings were

Contact:
Arthur Kelly
SERVPRO® of Fort Smith
(479) 452-8282servpro9676@icloud.com
CORRECTION: SERVPRO Cleaning Specialist in Fort Gibson Recommends Four Key Things to Look for as Businesses Reopen
Fort Gibson, OK (Grassroots Newswire) May 26, 2020 - For the past several months, people across the country have been sheltering at home to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. It is no surprise that many consumers are now nervous about rejoining their communities and reentering public spaces. A

For Immediate Release:
May 29, 2020
Contact: Christina Williams, Coordinator of Public Informationcwilliams@fortsmithschools.org
FSPS Resumes Regular Office Hours on June 8
Fort Smith, AR, May 29, 2020 – Beginning June 8, FSPS Offices will return to regular summer office hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday until July 6. The district will resume Monday-Friday services for the public at that time.
All employees who are on contract at this time will report to their traditional work

National Park Service News Release
Release Date: May 27, 2020
Contact: Lisa Conard Frost: lisa_conard_frost@nps.gov, 479-226-3701
Fort Smith National Historic Site to Begin Phased Access to Park
Fort Smith, AR – Fort Smith National Historic Site will continue to operate under the latest guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), and local and state authorities to promote social distancing. The National Park Service (NPS) is working service-wide with federal, state,

Release No: 32-20
Release: Immediately
May 20, 2020
Contact: Public Affairs, 501-324-5551ceswl-pa@usace.army.mil
Media after hours: 501-563-6835
From the Corps: Have fun, and be careful this Memorial Day weekend
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Memorial Day weekend is one of the top three busiest weekends of the year for the region’s lakes and rivers, and officials at the Army Corps of Engineers expect that 2020 will be no exception.
Corps park rangers caution that recreation areas around our lakes,

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 21, 2020
Levitt AMP Fort Smith Music Series Postponed until 2021
FORT SMITH, AR – In this time of uncertainty, our community’s health, safety and well-being
remain 64.6 Downtown’s top priority. Based on the unpredictability of the COVID-19 situation, we have made the decision to postpone the Levitt AMP Fort Smith Music Series to Summer 2021. The series was originally scheduled for July – September 2020.
This decision did not come easily, as it impacts many people

Contact: Christina Williams, Coordinator of Public Information williams@fortsmithschools.org
FSPS Teacher Selected as the 2020 Arkansas PTA ‘Teacher of the Year’
Fort Smith, AR, May 21, 2020 – The Arkansas PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) has named Fort Smith Public Schools’ Cavanaugh Elementary School 5th Grade Teacher Crissy Pierce as 2020 Arkansas PTA Teacher of the Year. Crissy was nominated for the recognition by the Cavanaugh Elementary School PTA.
“Crissy Pierce is a gifted,

Area Agency on Aging of Western Arkansas, Inc. is to proud to be a recipient of the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Grant and is the first in the State to target older victims of crime in Sebastian County and Franklin County.
The Agency’s Elder Victims of Crime Program is designed to provide clients with resources to overcome any victimization resulting from a crime. Our program can offer direct assistance in emergency housing, emergency food, emergency transportation, window/door/lock replacement, legal

Wednesday May 20, 2020
FORT SMITH, AR – Graphic Packaging International, located in the Chaffee Crossing area of Fort Smith, has several outstanding accomplishments to share with the local community. Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE: GPK), is one of the largest manufacturers of paperboard and paper-based packaging for some of the world’s most recognized brands of food, beverage, foodservice, household, personal care and pet care products. Since GPI located their facility in Fort Smith in 2005, the

For Immediate Release:
May 19, 2020
Contact: Christina Williams, Coordinator of Public Informationcwilliams@fortsmithschools.org
Raymond F. Orr Elementary School Selected for Inclusive Practices PLC Project
Fort Smith, AR, May 19, 2020 – Raymond F. Orr Elementary School has been selected to participate in the Inclusive Practices PLC Project for the 2020-2021 school year by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education - Special Education Unit.
The project will have an intentional focus

For Immediate Release…May 18, 2020United Way of Fort Smith Area Announces Recipients Of Blue and You Grant Funds
Fort Smith, AR — May 18, 2020— Recently United Way of Fort Smith Area was awarded a $25,000 grant from the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas as part of their Rapid-Response Covid Relief Grants program. The Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas is a charitable foundation established and funded by Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield to promote better health in Arkansas.

Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Gives $2,500 to The Salvation Army Donation to Assist with Utility ReliefFORT SMITH, Arkansas – Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corporation (AOG) is contributing $2,500 to the Salvation Army. This fund aligns with the company’s recent announcement to focus on relief efforts for those who have suffered from the devastating financial, educational and health impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. These funds will support area individuals and families who need utility assistance.“We assist thousands

Contact: Jurena L. Storm, CAP-OMOffice of Mayor George B. McGillCity of Fort Smith, ArkansasOffice: (479) 784-2344 Cell: (479) 221-7831E: Jurena.Storm@FortSmithAR.gov | www.fortsmithar.govFor Immediate Release
Fort Smith, AR – May 13, 2020 – There has been an update to the previous location and operating hours/days of the week for the COVID-19 drive-thru testing site in your area. The current testing site located at5301 Riverfront Dr.will be closing on May 13. The new site will be opening in the parking

For Immediate Release:
United Way Partner Agencies in Action Feeding Children
(Fort Smith, AR- May 8, 2020) United Way of Fort Smith Area, in partnership with their community partner agency the Community Services Clearinghouse, held a youth agency food distribution on Friday, May 8th. United Way agencies that are providing supplemental nutrition to children during the COVID-19 pandemic came to the Community Services